Switch-stand.



' No. 857,289- PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907. w. LONG & J. M. HOPPER.

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v SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED OUT 12 1906 w g M 0 2 x M 4 4 1 /6 m m 7n: NORRIS PETERs cm, WASHINGTDN, n. c

No. 857,289 PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907. M. W. LONG &.J. M. HOPPER,

SWITCH STAND. 7 APPLICATION FILED 00112, 1906.

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M. W. LONG & J. M. HOPPER.

. SWITCH STAND. APPLICATION FILED 001*.12, 1-906.

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PATENTED JUNE 18; 1907.-

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ATTDRIIEYT NITED. STATES PATENT MALCOLM W. mm or HARRIQBEQQMMES M. HOFFER,'OF STEELTON,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE PENNSYLVANIA STEEL COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

SWITCH-STAN D.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed October 12, 1906. Serial No. 338,630.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MALCOLM W. LONG and JAMES M. HOFFER, both citizens of the United States, said LONG residing at Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and said HOFFER residing at Steelton, in said county and State, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Stands, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the stand in site, connected with a closed switch. Fig. 2 is an end elevation'of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch-stand, the cover or top of the casing having been removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line ma;, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the operative parts removed, excepting the rack-bar. Fig. 6 is a plan view, similar to Fig. 3, after the lever has beenthrown and the switch thereby opened. Fig. 7 is a section on line yy,

Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a similar section on line z-z, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper side of the rack and the rack-bar, the

former having been removed from the latter.

This invention relates to that kind of switch-stands in which the rod or bar connected to the switch is caused to move in a straight line, as distinguished from a switchconnecting rod pivoted to a rotatable shaft.

The object of the invention is to provide such a stand having certain advantages hereinafter mentioned; among which are compactness, increased strength, and ease of operation.

The leading feature of the invention comprises the combination of a case or support, a horizontal shaft journaled therein and carrying a weighted lever-arm, a helical teeth gear mounted on said shaft and a horizontal bar adapted to be connected to a railway switch and having a rack with helical teeth, which teeth engage teeth of said gear.

Another feature of the invention comprises means for giving a certain lost motion in the mechanism intervening between said shaft and said bar; also for adjusting the extent of such lost motion.

The invention also relates to certain details and combinations hereinafter described and duly pointed out.

The precise nature of the invention will, however, appear from the following description.

1 denotes the case, composed of a bottom or base-portion, 1 and a cover, 1 that is adapted to be secured to the base by means of bolts, 2, passing through suitable holes in the base and cover.

The base is provided with extensions, 4, on each side, that are adapted to rest upon adjacent ties, 5, of the railway, to which said base is secured by suitable means, such as by bolts, 6, passing through holes in said extensions. J ournaled in bearings of the case, is a horizontal shaft, 7, having on its end project ing outside of the end of the case, a weighted lever-arm, 8. Mounted loosely upon said shaft, within the case, is a helical gear, 9, with whose teeth engage the similar teeth of a rack, 10, of a rack-bar, 10 hereinafter termed the rack-bar, that underlies said gear, and is adapted to slide longitudinally in a suitable guide-way of the base, 1 Also mounted on the shaft, 7, are two collars, marked respectively 11 and 12, and adjacent respectively to the ends of the gear, 9. One half or thereabout of the circumference of the ends of these collars contiguous the gear are cut away to form shoulders, 1 1, 1 1 and 12 12 on the respective collars, 11 and 12.

From one end of the gear, 9, projects a stud or pin, 13, and from the opposite end, a stud or pin, 14, into the space formed by the cutting away of the collars. The latter are fixedly secured to the shaft, 7; but, for pur poses of adjustment hereinafter described, these collars are loosely mounted on the shaft, but are securely fiXed thereto by set screws, 15. While the rack-portion, 10, of the rack bar may be integral with the latter, we prefer to make it separate and detachable from the same, so that, in case of breakage of one or more of the teeth of the rack, it may be readily replaced by a similar rack. As a simple and efficient means of securing the rack to the rack-bar, 10", we make the latter with a depression, 16, (Figs. 4 and 9) forming end-shoulders, 17, whose distance apart is equal to or somewhat greater than the length of the rack. The rack, when dropped into said depression, will, obviously, be held against longitudinal displacement by the shoulders, 17, and prevented from sidewise movement by the sides of the guide-way in which the rack-bar is adapted to slide, as hereinbefore mentioned.

When the stand is in use, the rack-bar will be connected to the usual switch-bar, 18, (Fig. 1), to which is secured the switch-rail, 19. In the present instance, the switch-rod and rack-bar are pivotally connected by a bolt, 20 (Fig. 1) passing through registering holes in said rod and bar.

Having described the construction of our invention, we now proceed to describe the mode of operation thereof, as follows :Assuming that the switch is closed, as in Fig. 1; that is, the switch-rail is in contact with the main rail, 21, (Figs. 1 and 2), and the movable parts of the stand are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7, at which time the stud, 14, is in contact with the shoulder, 12, of collar, 12, and the pin, 13, is some distance away from contact with either of the shoulders of the collar, 12: now, in throwing open the switch by hand, which would be done by taking hold of the lever-arm, 8, and raising it, the movement of the lever will have no effect upon the gear, 9, this gear being loose upon the shaft, 7, until the pin, 13, is impinged against by the shoulder, 11, of the collar, 11. VVhereupon, the said gear will rotate with the shaft, thus moving the rackbar, 10"*, and consequently the switch-rail, outwardly, and so opening the switch, which will be fully opened when said lever has been rotated a half revolution, at which time the movable parts of the stand will be in positions shown in Figs. 6 and 8. If, however, when the parts are in position before assumed, that is, that of Figs. 1 and 3; and a train run trailing through the closed switch, the forward wheel of the locomotive or car, in pushing aside the switch-rail and thus moving the switch-rod longitudinally, and

consequently the rack-bar, would cause the gear, 9, and the shaft, 7, to immediately rotate, by reason of the pin, 14, being then in contact with the shoulder, 12", until the lever has passed the vertical, whence it falls over to the horizontal position by its gravity and so completes the throw of the switch. When the switch is intended to be operated automatically; that is, to be opened by a train trailing through the same; a suitable catch, 22, (Figs. 1 and 2), for locking the lever-arm, 8, after it has moved from the position of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, to that of Fig. 6, will ordinarily be used. And when the leverarm is intended to be thrown by hand in both directions, there will be a locking device for the lever in both positions. Such catches, being well known and in common use, will not be herein particularly described. In returning the lever-arm &c, to the first or switch-closing position, which would be done by hand, the gear will not begin to rotate until the shoulder, 12*, comes into contact with the stud or pin, 14.

It being ordinarily desirable to use a vertical target shaft in connection with the switch-stand, we provide such a shaft, marked 23, in the drawings. The same is journaled in a bearing of the base, 1*, and also in a bearing of the cover, 1 through which latter bearing the shaft extends upwardl y. Mountedupon the target-shaft, within the case, 1, is a horizontal segment gear, 25, whose helically disposed teeth engage those of a helical gear, 26, on shaft 7. By this connection, a half rotation of shaft 7; that is, a full throw of the lever-arm, 8; imparts a corresponding one-fourth rotation to the target shaft. It will thus be observed that while the full movement of the lever, and consequently the shaft, 7, is 180 degrees, by reason of the rovision for lost motion between the shaf t 7, e. the shoulders of the collars, 11 and 12, and the studs on gear 8, the latterwill move less than 180 degrees, the extent of which are and lost motion depending upon the rotative adjustments of the collars, 11 and 12 that is, the positions ofthe shoulders of the latter with relation to the respective studs or pins on the gear, 8. Therefore, by adjusting said collars, not only can the length of throw of the switch be varied, but also, if desired, the reach of the throw in either direction, and this without affecting the throw or amount of rotation of the targetshaft when one is used.

By reason of the provision for lost motion between the collars; that is, in effect, the shaft, 7, and the gear, 9, or practically the lost motion between the said shaft and the mechanism connecting it with the rack-bar, the track-man, in throwing the lever-arm in either direction, does not meet the resistance of the switch until he has the benefit of the easy starting and momentum of the lever, consequently it requires less strength or force for him to throw the switch than would be the case if at the start he must overcome the weigllit and friction of the switch.

'le we have shown and described what we believe to be the preferred means for securing the 'desired lost motion between the shaft, 7, and the rack-bar, 10, and the adjustment of said lost motion, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise described means or devices to the end, as other means for securing the result maybe employed, without departing from the principles of this part of our invention.

We are aware of the fact that there have been described switch-stands of the kind to which our improvement relates, in which the horizontal, rotatable shaft carrying the weighted lever-arm, has fixed thereon a worm, the switch-bar having a pin or stud entered into the groove of the worm. The

quent economy of material, but also ease and smoothness in operation of the stand. And by having provision for lost motion in a stand of the kind to which the invention relates, as also means for adjusting or varying such lost motion, we attain the advantages 'hereinbefore specified; which advantages are suitable guide-ways of said case, and having the helical teeth engaging the teeth of said gear, substantially as set forth.

2. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical teeth gear mounted on said shaft, the reciprocatory rack-bar having helical teeth engaging teeth of said gear, and means for allowing lost motion between said bar and shaft, substantially as set forth.

3. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft ournaled there in, the lever on said shaft, the reciprocatory switch-bar, connections between said shaft and said bar, whereby said bar will be reciprocated longitudinally by rotation of said shaft, and the converse, together with means for allowing lost motion between said shaft and said bar, substantially for the purpose set forth.

4. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the switchbar, connections between said shaft and said bar, whereby the said bar will be reciprocated longitudinally by rotation of said shaft, and the converse; means for allowing lost motion between said shaft and said bar, and means for varying the extent of such lfost motion, substantially for the purpose set orth.

5. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the switchbar, connections between said shaft and said bar, whereby said bar will be reciprocated longitudinally by rotation of said shaft, and the converse, means for allowing lost motion between said shaft and said bar, together with the vertical target-shaft and operating connections between said target-shaft and said horizontal shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical teeth gear mounted on said shaft, the switch-bar having the helical teeth rack engaging teeth of said gear; means for allowing lost motion between said bar and shaft, and means for varying the extent of such lost motion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled there in, the lever on said shaft, the helical teeth gear mounted on said shaft, the bar adapted to slide longitudinally in guide-ways of said case, the helical teeth rack detachably secured to said bar, the teeth of which rack engage teeth of said gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical teeth gear mounted on said shaft, the bar having the transverse shoulders and adapted to slide longitudinally in suitable guide-ways of said case, and the detachable, helical teeth rack resting upon said bar between said shoulders, whereby said rack is maintained against longitudinal displacement, the teeth of said rack engaging teeth of said gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical teeth gear loosely-mounted on said shaft, the collars on said shaft, each having the separated shoulders, the studs projecting from said gear into the space between said shoulders respectively, and the bar having the helical teeth rack, whose teeth engage teeth of said gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft journaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical teeth gear loosely mounted on said shaft, the collars on said shaft having the separated shoulders, the studs projecting from said gears into the space between said shoulders, respectively; means for effecting adjustments rotatively of said collars on the shaft, and the bar having the helical teeth rack, whose teeth engage the teeth of said gear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. r

11. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft ournaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical teeth gear mounted on said shaft, the helical teeth rack-bar engaging said gear {means for allowing lost motion between said bar and shaft, together with the vertical targetshaft and operating connections between said target-shaft and said horizontal shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a switch-stand, the combination of the case, the horizontal shaft ournaled therein, the lever on said shaft, the helical teeth gear mounted on said shaft, the helical teeth rack-bar engaging said gear, allowing lost motion between said bar and shaft; means I 5 for varying the extent of such lost motion, together with the vertical target-shaft and operating connections between said targetshaft and said horizontal shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto aflixed our signatures.

MALCOLM W. LONG. JAMES M. HOFFER.

Witnesses:

WVM. R. MILLER, B. L. WEAVER. 

